Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
THE TRAIL OF DEATH.
Fate of a Party of Pioneers in the Far West
An Indian Victory.

Fate of Party Of Pioneers in the Far West
An Indian Victory.
We had been following the broad trail
left by four or five immigrant wagons
for many weary miles when the guide
suddenly halted, says a writer in the
Detroit Free Press. What of a wagon
trail loading across the great prairie
ocean toward sunset? The wheels had
crushed flowers and blossoms with their
iron tires-the iron-shod feet had torn
up the creeping vines and sweet grasses
the wagons had groaned and com
planned as they assembled and descended
the sharp swells. That was all. But no.!
What of the people-the brave men
who were daring hunger, thirst, accident
and the Indians thirst for blood to reach
new homes under Che shadow of the
Rockies? What of the stout-hearted
wives who were clinging to them through
peril-of the children whose eyes opened
wondrously wide at the immensely of the
prairie? We thought of them with chill
as we halted. Here the wagons had halt
ed as we'll. A halt two hours before sun
set, without good water at hand meant
danger. What danger? The horses
had paved the ground in a nervous way
DIS buoy StOOu buof0. u0 i've Or SIX n6u
had assembled together on a knoll for
consultation. The grass which their feet
had pressed to earth had not yet recover
ed it's position. Which way had their
gaze been turned? To the south! What
had they seen? Indians darkskinned
race of haters-human beings who glory
in having the hearts of tigers. Five
six-seven men against-how many?
Later on we put the number at fifty.
painted, yelling, shrieking warriors-not
a drop of pity in any heart-not feel
ing of mercy in any bosom. They had
caught sight of the white-toppedw wagons,
and were coming up from the south
tigers after human blood
What did the pioneers say among them
selves? On how many cheeks did the sun
burn of the prairie give place to the
paleness of anxiety and fear. They
gathered together away from the wagons
they talked In low tones-they sought
to hide their fears from those they loved.
And what CT the women and children?
Faces turned whittier that the SHOWS of the
new year-lips quivered with emotion
limbs trembled as the mind recalled
stories of blood and cruelty. And in each
wagon some one knelt and prayed to God
to extend his hand of protection.
And now the wagons move on. For a
time it is in close order, with the brave
husbands between danger and their loved
ones. Then there is en- Academia death
"a something to cause alarm, and the
alarm soon becomes panic. Heaven help
them now! The horses are pushed to
trot-now to a gallop-now they are run
ming in mad excitement, urged by the
whips of the drivers and the shouts of
the Indians. We know how it will end.
The night is coming down now, and we
go into camp. One night more will make
no difference with the skeletons lying on
the grass two or three miles away. The
wolves have been there each night for a
week.
The sun is an hour high as we reach
the spot. Here is an acre of ground on
which curse may ever rest. Here the
wagons were headed off-here the hus-
bands and sons made the fight which men
make when the last hope is gone and des
pair comes like dark cloud. ORe-two
-four-fve-alI the wagons are here, but
broken and useless. The bloated and
half-devoured bodies of the horses are
here. The bodies of men, women and
children are-no! You cannot call
skeleton a body. You cannot say that
this bundle of clean-picked bones was
man or woman. They are all here. Not
a soul escaped. Over the CHASTITY acre is
strewn the garments of the dead-the
contents of the wagons. In the circle
about the wagons are blood spots on the
grass. Those pioneers did no. die with
out revenge. But when the last one had
fallen what shouts of victory! What yells
for vengeanee! What feast for toma
hawk and scalping knife! The wolves